Gerald R. Ford Bow lift

A shipyard worker watches the progress closely as the 680-metric-ton lower bow unit of the nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is joined with other keel sections in the dry dock at Newport News Shipbuilding Thursday.

A shipyard worker watches the progress closely as the 680-metric-ton lower bow unit of the nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is joined with other keel sections in the dry dock at Newport News Shipbuilding Thursday. (Adrin Snider/Daily Press)

A shipyard worker watches the progress closely as the 680-metric-ton lower bow unit of the nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is joined with other keel sections in the dry dock at Newport News Shipbuilding Thursday.Adrin Snider/Daily Press